This research is an exploration of a spatial approach to
identify the contexts of unemployment-crime relationships at the
county level. Using Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA)
techniques, the study explored the relationship between unemployment
and property crimes (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and
robbery) in Virginia from 1995 to 2000. Unemployment rates were
obtained from the Department of Labor, while crime rates were obtained
from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's ... (more info)

This research is an exploration of a spatial approach to
identify the contexts of unemployment-crime relationships at the
county level. Using Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA)
techniques, the study explored the relationship between unemployment
and property crimes (burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, and
robbery) in Virginia from 1995 to 2000. Unemployment rates were
obtained from the Department of Labor, while crime rates were obtained
from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports.
Demographic variables are included, and a resource deprivation scale
was created by combining measures of logged median family income,
percentage of families living below the poverty line, and percentage
of African American residents.

The files are provided in a WinZip archive with 12
files in three folders. The Statistical Data Files folder provides the
data in Microsoft Excel files. The Geographic Data Files folder
provides the geographic files for use with mapping software. The
Report Files folder provides the final report, the cover for the final
report, and two lists of measures.

Methodology

Study Purpose:
The purpose of this research was to develop and
implement an exploratory spatial approach to identifying the contexts
of unemployment-crime (U-C) relationships, focusing on the utility of
the Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) in finding the county
level contexts of U-C linkages.

Study Design:
Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA)
techniques were used to study both the global and the local context of
unemployment rates, index crimes, and resource deprivation. Annual
data on unemployment rates were obtained from the United States
Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site for the
years 1995 through 2000. Information on reported crime rates was
obtained from the Geospatial and Statistical Data Center of the
University of Virginia from data collected by the United States
Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (Uniform
Crime Reports). The study focused on crimes classified as property
crimes under the Uniform Crime Reports (burglary, larceny, motor
vehicle theft, and robbery) and on total index crimes. The Crime Index
total is the sum of selected serious offenses including murder and
non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, and the
three property crimes, and was included in the study because reporting
rates are most valid for index crimes. Finally, information on both
age distributions and measures used in the resource deprivation scale
were obtained from the county-level census files of the Geospatial and
Statistical Data Center at the University of Virginia. The resource
deprivation scale was created from 1990 Census data combining the
following measures: logged median family income, percentage of
families living below the poverty line, and percentage of African
American residents.

Sample:
All reported property and index crimes and unemployment
rates in all counties in Virginia are included in the study.

Weight:
none

Mode of Data Collection:
record abstracts

Data Source:

Unemployment data were obtained from the United States
Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics Web site. Reported
crime rates data were obtained from the United States Department of
Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime
Reports. Age distributions and measures used in the resource
deprivation scale were obtained from the Geospatial and Statistical
Data Center at the University of Virginia.

Description of Variables:
The data include the Federal Information Processing
Standards (FIPS) county codes for the state of Virginia, the name of
county or city, and region variable to indicate if the county is in
the western, northern, or eastern region of the state. Crime rate
variables include burglary crime rates, larceny crime rates, motor
vehicle theft crimes rates, robbery crime rates, and the index crime
rates. Four measures of unemployment are provided: unemployment rates,
lagged unemployment rates, the average unemployment rates from 1995 to
2000, and the average unemployment rates from 1994 to 2000.
Demographic variables included in the data are the number of males per
100 females, 1990, the percent of the population by age, 1990, and the
Resource Deprivation Affluence Component scale.